Contract demise triggers Splendora school district to hire Roy Rogers as first police chief

SUZANNE WEST, Chronicle correspondent

Published
5:30 am CDT, Thursday, August 2, 2001

When Splendora Independent School District opens its doors Monday there will be a new sheriff in town.

Well, actually he's the new police chief on campus.

Roy Rogers, a 20-year law enforcement veteran, was hired by the district to head its police department. He has spent the last 10 years as a police officer with Kingwood College.

Not only is Rogers new to the district, but his position, as well as that of the entire force, was created during the summer after trustees opted not to renew a contract with the city of Splendora's police department.

"It's a challenge to start a police department from the ground floor up, but I'm really looking forward to it," he said. "It's a challenge and I really love kids. I like being around kids."

After 10 years as a street patrol officer, Rogers was injured responding to a burglary with shots fired. While recuperating, he decided to go to college and began attending classes at Kingwood College where he was offered a position with that police force.

Campus policing, he said, was far different than breaking up "beer joint fights" or domestic disputes. While employed at the college, the staff there became like a second family, he said.

"We are going to miss him here tremendously," said Diane Blanco, Kingwood College spokeswoman. "He will be a great asset for Splendora."

The opportunity to work with younger students in a setting closer to home was too good to let go by, Rogers said.

"I've done presentations for elementary school kids and I just loved it," he said.

But, best of all is the opportunity to be pro-active and keep youths away from trouble before it begins, said Rogers.

"If I can keep one kid from getting into trouble, I've accomplished a lot," he said. "That makes my day or my year. My philosophy is pro-active policing. It lets me get involved and keep something from happening before it happens."

Rogers said he plans to be visible and approachable by the students, staff and community. And, he wants the department to be the same way.

"I want to be community-oriented," he said. "I'd rather help people than write a ticket."

Rogers is the only member of the police department staff, but district officials hope to have the department's second officer on board in time for the opening of school.

And, as the police department gets off the ground, the district will continue with the process of purchasing a patrol car.

The district has grown and that growth necessitates the move to a department of its own, said Splendora ISD superintendent Leon Cubillas.

"The main thing is it is our responsibility to have our own organization, especially as we grow," Cubillas said. "As you grow, you start getting into these things and times have changed so much."

While policing involves enforcement of laws, policing a school district is a somewhat different approach, Cubillas said.

"We need a person with a school-district focus and we need to be able to work with our students and our teachers," he said. "For the most part, we are dealing with children, so it takes a different focus."

Starting a police department also gives the district an opportunity to have another active, positive role model in the schools to help promote respect for police officers and law enforcement, Cubillas.

"And, maybe, their presence will act as a deterrent to bad conduct and reminder for good conduct," he added.